Allegiant has been ferrying passengers to Las Vegas from Stockton since 2006. During that time, it offered flights to Palm Springs, Long Beach and Mesa, Ariz. None of those destinations for the market-sensitive Allegiant stayed on the schedule even a year.

And even its Stockton-Las Vegas service has been subject to expansion and contraction depending on season and passenger demand.

It is hoped Hawaii flights will attract enough passenger volume to keep the Las Vegas-based carrier providing the service.

Airport officials are trying to make that happen, sprucing up the terminal and making the relatively inexpensive close-in parking - $7 daily - easier to use with an automated parking control system that accepts credit and debit cards.

The first 757 will land there Sunday at 3:30 p.m. as part of a reception and a Fire Department water cannon greeting. The jetliner will depart for Honolulu two hours later.

The once-a-week schedule won't work for all headed to the islands, but the convenience of a Stockton departure avoids traveling to an airport in Sacramento or the Bay Area, the parking is less expensive here and once you land on the return leg, you're home.